Surrealness, soccer and sincerity

by Chris Aaland

Last week was a surreal one for my family and me. Not only did Shelly and I have to arrange the memorial services and funeral for our 5-month-old son, Gus, but we had to find ways to get on with our lives. Working in the Fort Lewis College Athletic Department afforded us plenty of opportunities to do so. (Shelly’s job is head volleyball coach and mine is assistant athletic director in charge of external relations).

In between moments of deep sadness, anger, guilt, confusion and reflection, we had to juggle a volleyball tryout for some 40 high school players hopeful of continuing their careers in college with four home basketball games and the men’s soccer team’s run to a third NCAA Division II national championship.

The Skyhawk family embraced us like never before. All of our teams in action this past weekend wore black arm bands in Gus’ honor. The women’s basketball team also wore light blue ribbons in their hair. Goalkeeper Ryan Wirth wrote “For Aaland” in big letters on his Under Armor shirt that he wore underneath his jersey. Members of the soccer team dedicated their Final Four trip to my family and Gus, both in a newspaper article and to kick off their official, post-championship NCAA press conference.

Still, I felt incredible guilt for the pride and joy I took in their victory. One night after Gus’ memorial, I was back at the Irish Embassy Pub with hundreds of folks watching the 3-0 semifinal win over Millersville. More than a handful of folks told me they couldn’t believe I was there. My response was, “Where else would I be?” Their questions hit deep, though, and I struggled all day Friday to fight the emptiness. The vast majority of our administrative staff was in Florida with the soccer team, leaving me and a skeleton crew to run home basketball games during the weekend. After the workers, teams and fans left Friday night and I was alone in the office updating the athletic website and sending postgame stories to the media, I broke down.

The next day, I rushed back to work to prepare for Saturday’s games – not just the home basketball ones, but that afternoon’s NCAA soccer championship. As 4:30 p.m. crept closer, we realized the gym wasn’t set up and tip-off for basketball was an hour away. None of us wanted to wait around the gym watching pregame; the soccer final was heading into overtime. I juggled pregame basketball set-up in the gym with watching the NCAA’s webcast in my office. A few minutes later, Berekk Blackwell headed home a corner kick, launching celebrations from Pensacola to Durango and beyond.

I jumped up and down in my office screaming wildly, then ran into the gym, where the FLC and Colorado State-Pueblo women’s basketball teams had begun their pregame rituals. I sprinted into the arms of Mary Rose Paiz and Katerina Garcia, two of our players, sharing the good news. Then I wept.

On Sunday afternoon, Otto, my brother, Billy, and others met the soccer team at the airport. I’d brought the giant FLC soccer flags that fly over Dirks Field to wave when the team stepped off their 737. There were hugs, high fives, tears and that whole range of emotion from the past two weeks – including a powerful onset of survivor’s guilt. Then I went home and slept while the victory party raged at the Pub.

You can join in the celebration at 4 p.m. Friday as the FLC men’s soccer team parades down Main Ave. from College to 9th Street. Players and coaches will autograph the championship poster at the Irish Embassy Pub following the parade. They told us, “This one’s for Gus,” and we thank them for it. But it’s really for all of us … youth soccer players, fans, the college, their own friends and families, FLC soccer alumni and you. It’s a community thing.

The Community Concert Hall once again stages the magical holiday ballet, “The Nutcracker,” this year. The highly acclaimed State Street Ballet of Santa Barbara ushers in the holidays with a pair of 2 p.m. matinees (Saturday and Sunday) and two 7 p.m. evening performances (Friday and Saturday).

Artistic Director Rodney Gustafson holds true to the original classical ballet in this Tchaikovsky masterpiece, creating a traditional “Nutcracker” set in Victorian times and suited for all ages. Based on the book, The Nutcracker and the Mouse King, the ballet tells the story of a young German girl, Clara, whose toy nutcracker comes to life during a dream. In addition to the State Street Ballet’s traveling company, 54 young local dancers will perform.

Nothing quite says holidays like Christmas cookies and eggnog. In the spirit of the season, Music in the Mountains presents “Concert, Cookies and Cocktails” from 5-8 p.m. Tuesday at the Glacier Club. If you’d like to participate in the cookie swap, bring six dozen cookies to share in a disposable container and leave with a holiday basket of six dozen assorted cookies. Maestro Guillermo Figueroa will present a special concert, plus there are delicious holiday cocktails and appetizers. Seasonal attire is encouraged. Prizes will be awarded for prettiest cookie and most outrageous holiday outfit. Cost is $65 per person.

Achachay! brings Texas-flavored Latin funk to the Summit tonight (Thurs., Dec. 8) at 9 p.m. The band’s website touts a “high-energy live show guaranteed to make the crowd’s booties shake.” Expect hours of original funk combined with tasty covers ranging from classic rock to hip-hop. The Summit’s slate also includes happy hour with Chaz McFlash from 6-9 p.m. Friday, a big hip-hop show featuring DJ Rumble Junkie, Treazon, Ras Daws and Shirley Temple at 10 p.m. Friday and a double shot of country love by Farmington Hill and The Crags on Saturday.

This week’s Moe’s lineup includes a disco party featuring DJ Mateo at 9 p.m. Friday, the Babes in Toyland femme desire all-girl art show featuring DJ Treazon at 9 p.m. Saturday, and Musica del Mundo at 8 p.m. Sunday.

And Black Velvet has another FAC gig at El Rancho from 5-8 p.m. Friday.

This week’s Top Shelf list is a sincere and simple one from Shelly, Otto and me to this beautiful community we all share:
Thank you.

Little drops of rain whisper the pain? E-mail me at chrisa@gobrainstorm.net.